'My word is who cares?'

The national vaccination campaign against COVID-19 steadily continued its rollout across the country yesterday, as nearly a quarter of a million new coronavirus infections and more than 3,600 deaths were reported in the U.S., shattering previous records. But if it were up to a former Department of Health and Human Services adviser, all those cases are just fine. In fact, they're preferred, according to Paul Alexander, who was installed by President Trump in April to lead the HHS' communications efforts.

• — A watchdog investigation published yesterday revealed that Alexander repeatedly advocated for allowing millions of young and middle-aged Americans to become infected with COVID-19 over the summer in pursuit of a controversial "herd immunity" strategy. In July, he wrote, "If it is causing more cases in young, my word is who cares…as long as we make sensible decisions, and protect the elderly [sic] and nursing homes, we must go on with life."
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• — In a trove of emails, Alexander acknowledged that the Trump Administration was aware that its policies would increase the spread of COVID-19, urged HHS staff to release more "positive statements" in support of the administration’s pandemic response, and cast blame on scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci for offering less rosy assessments of the situation, accusing them of trying to "make the president look bad."
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• — The agency is now distancing itself from Alexander and his ideas in a statement, saying "his emails absolutely did not shape department strategy" and emphasizing that he was a "temporary senior policy adviser to the assistant secretary for public affairs and is no longer employed at the department." —Forbes

The Economist: How Covid changed us

"Many people under lockdown have asked themselves what matters most in life. Governments should take that as their inspiration, focusing on policies that promote individual dignity, self-reliance, and civic pride. They should recast welfare and education and take on concentrations of entrenched power so as to open up new thresholds for their citizens. Something good can come from the misery of the plague year. It should include a new social contract fit for the 21st century." —The Economist

MORE: 'It is madness': Governors rage over stimulus snub —Politico

'A significant and ongoing cybersecurity campaign'

Back in March, Americans were distracted by primary elections in the presidential race and the coronavirus pandemic, which was hitting the U.S. with full force for the first time. It was the perfect opportunity for a foreign adversary to invade U.S. computer systems. Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in its most detailed comments yet about a massive hacking campaign that came to light earlier this week that the intrusion compromised government agencies as well as "critical infrastructure." CISA also warns that the attack, which was hard to detect and will be difficult to undo, poses a "grave" risk.

• — Russia-based hackers are suspected in the hack, due to its sophistication, but neither CISA nor the FBI has publicly announced that yet. Asked directly whether Russia was behind the attack, an official said, "We believe so. We haven't said that publicly yet because it isn't 100% confirmed." The matter is under investigation.
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• — CISA previously indicated that the perpetrators had used network management software from Texas-based SolarWinds to infiltrate government and private computer networks. In today's alert, the agency suggested that the attackers may have used other methods as well.
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• — "This is looking like it's the worst hacking case in the history of America," another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. "They got into everything." Though CISA did not say which agencies or infrastructure were breached or what information was taken, the administration is working on the assumption that most, if not all, government agencies were compromised. —Associated Press

Bossert: We are compromised by Russia

"President-elect Joe Biden must begin his planning to take charge of this crisis. He has to assume that communications about this matter are being read by Russia, and assume that any government data or email could be falsified. ... President Trump must get past his grievances about the election and govern for the remainder of his term. This moment requires unity, purpose, and discipline. An intrusion so brazen and of this size and scope cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation." —Thomas Bossert in The New York Times

Thomas Bossert was the homeland security adviser to President Trump and deputy homeland security adviser to former President George W. Bush.

MORE: U.S. intelligence agencies warn large-scale cyber attack is 'ongoing' —Financial Times

'We have to stop this'

A Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing yesterday provided a platform for another round of specious legal arguments and falsehoods about widespread voter fraud that have been repeatedly rejected by courts across the country. It was the latest effort by the Republican chair of the committee, Sen. Ron Johnson, to amplify the claims and concerns of President Trump, though even Johnson conceded in his opening remarks that fraudulent voting did not affect the outcome of the election.

• — The Trump campaign has failed to provide evidence in a number of lawsuits that Republican observers were barred from witnessing vote tabulating. Recounts and post-election audits in several battleground states have either concluded and reconfirmed President-elect Joe Biden's victory. And there is no evidence that the election was "stolen," as panel member Sen. Rand Paul claimed.
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  — Even as several witnesses insisted there was proof of widespread fraud—and as their claims were echoed in viral posts on social media—Christopher Krebs, the former head of the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity division, testified that the election was the most secure in American history.
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• — Krebs cited and debunked a number of false conspiracy theories and rumors, including those advanced by Trump and his allies. The claim about "a CIA supercomputer and program that were flipping votes throughout the country, and in Georgia specifically"—pushed by Sidney Powell, a former lawyer for Trump—is disproved by the paper ballots, he said. "We have to stop this. It is undermining confidence in democracy," Krebs concluded. —The New York Times

MORE: North Carolina GOP lawmaker urges Trump to suspend civil liberties to keep power: 'Invoke the Insurrection Act' —The Washington Post

Why is Hunter Biden under federal investigation in Pittsburgh?

U.S. Attorney Scott Brady isn't commenting, but his Pittsburgh office and local FBI agents have been investigating President-elect Joe Biden's son Hunter for the past year, much to the dismay of some career prosecutors. It appears to have started last December, when President Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he went in search of information on the Bidens—specifically Hunter Biden's relationship with the Ukraine natural gas company Burisma.

• — Giuliani visited Pittsburgh last January and discussed the evidence in a four-hour meeting with Brady, who sources say is a strong supporter of the president and an active participant in Republican politics. Brady was eager to be involved. The investigation has not resulted in an indictment and its present status is unclear. —CBS News
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• — Republicans are calling for a special counsel investigation. Jeffrey Rosen, who will replace Bill Barr as attorney general, declined yesterday to say whether he will order a special counsel probe into Hunter Biden. Trump is reportedly eager to launch such a probe in order to damage the incoming Biden Administration. If a special counsel is appointed, any evidence collected by Brady would be turned over to the special counsel’s office. —Business Insider
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• — As for Trump, he’s playing dumb. This morning, he tweeted, "I have NOTHING to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden, or the Biden family. It is just more Fake News. Actually, I find it very sad to watch!" —Al Jazeera

Hyde & Saunders: We're down, but not out

"There are already many reform proposals that could help rebuild democratic resilience. Many are focused on what can be reformed: institutions and the rules that govern them. For example, the nonpartisan Election Reformers Network's proposal to reduce conflicts of interest among secretaries of state, based on successful models in other countries, and other proposals to rectify Mr. Trump's attacks on checks and balances across the government. But a healthy, resilient democracy also requires sufficient citizen support for democracy across the political spectrum. And that, in turn, depends on both parties embracing a commitment to democratic principles—a tall order given the Republican Party's recent behavior." —Dr. Susan Hyde and Dr. Elizabeth Saunders in The New York Times

Dr. Susan Hyde is a political scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Elizabeth Saunders is a political scientist in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown.

MORE: The five biggest threats our democracy faces —Brennan Center for Justice

I vote with Kim C. of Oregon. All the polls I've read show the vast majority of Republicans still believing Trump's lies over facts. I now see the power of the cult of personality in politics, but I never thought it would occur in this country. If we form a swing-block party, we can influence both major parties to obtain our vote, similar to the Temperance movement leading up to the adoption of Prohibition (with hopefully better results!). This effort can drive at least one party toward the middle of the political spectrum in supporting our demands for democratic ideals. —Paul P., Texas

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